Hey there everyone, this is my first story submission, a long labor of love. A special thanks to my editor PeterDeen, he did an amazing job. Just a quick warning, this is NOT a quick sex romp, but i hope that you enjoy it never the less! I have purposely left the name and identity of my main male character out just to add a little intrigue. ;-))
'Everything is going just as exhausting as planned.' Kayla thought wearily, she'd been lagging behind the rest of the hiking group for the last half hour about ready to quit, when at last one of the tour guides Anton, told them they were setting up camp.
"Thank god" she groaned, gaining a few chuckles from a few of the others.
It was late-afternoon and today's leg of the journey had been the most exhausting yet. They had steadily hiked upwards for the last four hours and though she was incredibly fit and a keen hiker back home Kayla hadn't experienced this type of climate or altitude before.
Well it was definitely showing now.
Her normally pale complexion was reddened from windburn and exertion and a fine sheen of sweat beaded her upper lip and forehead.
'And Thank god for chap stick.' She thought dropping her pack to the ground with relief.
Four days of practice meant the group of six were a well oiled machine, each having their own duty; it only took them half an hour to have the tents pitched, a warm fire blazing, and food cooking away nicely.
After a satisfying dinner the rest of the day passed easily. The others were mostly chatting about aches and pains, while the tour guides went over the next leg of the trip on their map. For her part she did as she always had, watched and listened.
Kayla the wallflower.
"How's it going there kiddo?" Anton asked, startling her.
"Jeez you gave me a fright!," she laughed, shuffling over so he could take a seat.
"Im doing alright, lasted longer today then I thought I would, still got nothing on you and the hiking junkies though"
"You're not doing too bad," he replied grinning and poking the fire thoughtfully "Still trying to figure out why a young woman would come all the way out here on her own though, especially when you have ocean cruises or tropical island holidays,"
He looked over at the others and chuckled
"Not like this lot who've already done this same trip twice before, you just don't seem like the type."
Kayla stared down at her boots, the reason for the holiday was to get away from the questions and sympathy. Instantly images of her lying, cheating, slimy bastard of an ex-fiancé sprang to mind.
She quickly shook her head clearing it.
"Yeah, my family and friends all think I'm mad too. I guess I just wanted something different," looking up she put on her best poker face and grinned "Besides I'm really enjoying it, the scenery is gorgeous and I'm getting a fantastic work out."
He seemed appeased by that, laughing loudly.
'Good' She didn't need her dramas following her half way around the world.
"Would you mind if I had a little wander, I'd love to take a little look around." Kayla asked "Just for ten or twenty minutes, I promise I won't go far." she quickly added when she saw his disapproving look.
"Yea alright then, just make sure you stay where you can see the campfire and don't be too long." he replied, throwing her a safety whistle.
Once she was out of the campsite she allowed herself the luxury of a proper groan, she dug her hands into the muscles of her lower back trying to work out some of the knots.
Her legs, shoulders and back all ached terribly, hiking though the high altitude and much cooler climate were proving much more of a physical challenge then she had anticipated.
That was the whole point of this trip though, gruelling, physically draining.
So mentally and physically taxing she'd have no choice but to forget her ex.
She meandered through the woods staying within radius of the campsite, not close enough to hear them talking but not so far that they wouldn't hear her if she needed help.
She noted that the wind was picking up as she pulled on the hold of her parka. The trees were swaying steadily, their pine limbs clapping wildly with each gust. She found a sheltered little nook nestled at the base of one of the larger trees and sat, remembering how she'd ended up here in the first place.
This whole trip had been her best friend Mel's idea, remembering the conversation she had with her the month before she left.
"You need to get away chick, everything here is just going to remind you of Matt and you know it." Melody commented from the kitchen, helping herself to a third bowl of ice-cream when she passed on her sage advice.
"And then? I'll have a perfectly miserable holiday and eventually I will have to come back home." Kayla replied dryly.
"Yeah, but then at least you can have a little time out for yourself, you know, to center." Mel dropped on to the couch beside her.
"I don't need to center, I just need to carry on and forget. Eventually everything will sort itself out."
"You know you're not just going to move on from a four year relationship over night Hun," She poked her spoon into Kayla's ribs "Do something you've always wanted to do, meet a hot guy and get your shitty ex outta your head."
Making a disgusted sound Kayla stared at her best friend as if she was insane.
"Sorry I'm over men for now, and no that doesn't mean I'm switching to women. I just don't want to think about starting over."
Glancing down at the engagement ring she still had on her finger she shook her head with resolve.
"I wasted four years of my life on a man that just dumped me outta the blue for his secretary? He's a walking cliché asshole and I don't want to make an investment like that again for at least...ten years!" saying the first number that popped into her head.
"I'm not asking you to go out and find a new fiancé babe, just get some action and take your mind of things...TEN years?! Wow, if you can go that long without sex...I can't even finish that sentence." she said with a mock shudder.
Kayla laughed despite her current mood.
"Thanks all the same, I know you're trying to help but I need to deal with this in my own way, in my own time."
